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BackSince the legalization of hemp-derived “alternative” cannabinoids in 2018 via the Farm Bill, the cannabis industry has taken full advantage of harvesting, cultivating, and harnessing the qualities of brand-new cannabinoids to which we previously had limited access.
One of those cannabinoids is THCA. THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is found in raw cannabis flowers. Some people consider THCA to be THC’s mother cannabinoid, as THC begins as THCA before aging, decarboxylating, and converting into THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
As innovations in the cannabis industry continue to grow, cannabis companies have been able to utilize these cannabinoids in many different forms. Just like THC can be smoked in flower, vaped in concentrates, or eaten in edibles, so can cannabinoids like THCA. However, taking a less-traveled path, THCA has become extremely popular in another form entirely: THCA sand.
But what is THCA sand? What are THCA edibles? How do you smoke THCA sand? What does THCA feel like? Does THCA sand get you high? What are the best ways to enjoy THCA sand? Where can you find THCA sand?
Don’t worry! We’re here to answer all of your questions about THCA and THCA sand.
Key Takeaways
- THCA is the precursor of delta 9 THC. In its inactive state, THCA does not have psychoactive effects. However, when exposed to heat, it turns into delta 9 and becomes psychoactive.
- THCA sand is a THCA concentrate made out of live resin. Given its extraction process, it is a highly concentrated and potent concentrate.
- THCA sand is best enjoyed smoked with flower or vaped with an accessory like an e-rig. However, some people also use it on edibles.
Best Ways to Enjoy THCA
Now that you know what THCA is, you’re probably curious about the best ways to enjoy THCA. As innovations in the cannabis industry continue to grow, cannabis companies have been able to utilize THCA in many different forms.
Similar to other cannabinoids such as delta 9 THC, CBD, and HHC, THCA can be smoked in flower, vaped in concentrates, eaten in edibles, or enjoyed as THCA sand.
What is THCA Sand?
THCA sand is a type of live resin beach sand. Live resin beach sand refers to high-potency concentrate (resin) that is derived from freshly frozen (or flash-frozen) organic plant material.
Resin is a thick, sticky, insoluble substance that many different plants secrete. Resin in cannabis acts like a glue that holds together the plant’s trichomes, cannabinoids, and terpenes. The practice of collecting resin is the same process as collecting cannabis extracts and concentrates.
Live resin comes from cannabis that hasn’t yet undergone the drying and curing process and instead has been flash-frozen while it is fresh. This is done to preserve the integrity of the terpenes and cannabinoids, which can be degraded during the rest of the cultivation process.
Raw cannabis flower also produces something called kief. Kief (sometimes called dry sift) can be collected by sifting trichomes through a series of extremely fine mesh screens. (Yes, just like the ones in your grinder!) After going through the finest screen, the kief becomes extremely fine, weeding out as much of the coarse material from the resin as possible. Due to its fine crystalline texture, the resulting sift is referred to as sand.
THCA sand is an extremely pure form of live resin beach sand. With 95% (and up) purity, THCA sand is an extremely concentrated product.
What are THCA Sand Edibles?
THCA sand edibles are cannabis edibles that are infused with THCA sand. There are many different ways to make cannabis edibles: you can use decarboxylated and dried cannabis flower, cannabinoid-infused oil-based tinctures, cannabinoid distillate, or with cannabinoid kief or sand.
THCA sand edibles are made using THCA sand, a super fine crystalline powder that is left behind by thoroughly sifted kief.
THCA Sand: How to Smoke It
So, how do you smoke THCA sand? There are a couple of different ways to enjoy THCA sand, and most of them are due to personal preference.
If they have larger crystals, some people prefer to dab their THCA sand. Since THCA sand is still crystalline, it can be easily melted down in a dab rig and taken as a THCA dab.
Others prefer to use THCA sand more like kief, as the finer the sand is, the easier it is to do things like roll it in with their flower or coat it on the outside of their joints or blunts.
Similarly, some people like to sprinkle THCA sand on top of their bowls or bong packs!
Does THCA Get You High?
Many people think that because THCA has “THC” in its name that it’s the same as THC. However, even though THCA is the acidic precursor to THC, THCA does not get you high. THCA is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, meaning that it lacks the psychoactive components that a cannabinoid requires to produce a high.
However, when decarboxylated (or heated up to near-combustion temperatures, as with a lighter), THCA turns into THC. And THC, as we all know, does get you high. So if you’re smoking THCA sand crystals, the THCA won’t get you high, but the THC it turns into will.
Because un-decarboxylated THCA on its own is non-psychoactive, this has allowed it to be legal for sale and use. THC is still considered a controlled substance in many parts of the country due to the fact that it does get you high, but sold as its precursor THCA, it is still completely legal in the United States.
(It’s also worth noting that although THCA is considered non-psychoactive, it still may show up on drug tests due to the trace amounts of THC it contains. We recommend using THCA responsibly!)
What Does THCA Feel Like?
THCA on its own is not a psychoactive cannabinoid. Therefore THCA doesn’t entirely “feel” like anything. Most cannabis users are used to feeling the head and body high that comes from cannabinoids like THC and HHC, so cannabinoids like CBD and THCA can feel like, well, nothing.
(Don’t get confused – when you smoke THCA and it converts into THC, you will feel high. But remember, that’s the THC you’re feeling and not the THCA.)
Benefits of THCA Sand
Even though THCA is non-psychoactive and therefore won’t get you high, there are still many benefits of using THCA sand. Since THCA is non-psychoactive, many of the benefits are utilized in the medical/wellness spaces of cannabis.
It’s important to note cannabis research is still scarce. That said, much of what we know about cannabis is supported largely by anecdotal evidence.
Users who have used THCA have reported:
- Anti-inflammatory effects.
- Aid with falling and staying asleep.
- Potential neuroprotective properties.
- Relief from nausea or digestive/stomach pain.
- Increased or stimulated appetite.
Where to Buy THCA Online?
Since THCA is considered a “specialty” or “alternative” cannabinoid (meaning it’s less popular and accessible to its cannabinoid siblings like THC and CBD), it can be difficult to find THCA in person. Some specialty dispensaries may carry THCA products, but the best place to find the biggest selection of THCA products is online.
**(Disclaimer reminder: This article is not medical advice. It is based on anecdotal user experience alone. If you are thinking about incorporating cannabis (delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, CBD, etc) into your medicinal routine, please consult a healthcare professional. Do not stop taking any prescribed medications without first consulting your doctor.)
Disclaimer: This article reflects the laws of the United States at the time it was written. Because cannabis laws in the United States laws are subject to change at any time, please make sure that you are always staying up to date on your federal, state, and local county’s cannabis laws. Additionally, we are NOT encouraging anyone to break the law––we are simply showing people ways to legally and discreetly bring their cannabis products along with them on their travels so that they may have access to those products when they reach their intended destination.
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